EasyBloom USB stake sensor now shipping, plants celebrate

Well, wouldn't you know it? That PlantSense prototype we peeked around this time two years ago has seemingly found the fundage to start up production, and at long last the revamped product is available for you to purchase. Now christened EasyBloom, this USB stake sensor analyzes important data when stuck in soil for 24 hours, after which it uploads the data to your PC (via USB) for determining whether or not a flower / tree / etc. should be planted there. Additionally, it can "diagnose what is wrong with an ailing plant," and it can even dole out a recommended list of which plants would be suitable for your environment. Sure, $59.99 may seem like a lot of green to toss out for something such as this, but it sure beats purchasing new flora every fortnight after you murder yet another round.

Gallery: EasyBloom USB stake sensor now shipping, plans celebrate

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[Jash Sayani @ Oct 27th 2008 2:31PM]

And why would you need a USB drive with Shake sensors....??

[Stefan @ Oct 27th 2008 2:37PM]

To stick it in your ass...

On an other note , it would be a nice gift for my flower crazed mom.

[16-bit @ Oct 27th 2008 2:38PM]

So you can tell if it's a regular or malted shake.

[joe23521 @ Oct 27th 2008 2:40PM]

Who needs this when you've got the PlantBot?

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 27th 2008 2:52PM]

The PlantBot is making a co-operative effort with the EasyBloom to find the best PlantBot for your plant.

[AC0 @ Oct 27th 2008 2:45PM]

Would make a good taser... Smell my flower! ZAP, and the sweet smell of singed nose hairs.

[Brian White @ Oct 27th 2008 2:48PM]

The first thing that came to mind when I saw this thing was that one weapon item from Super Smash Bros Brawl of the same shape

[Boarderwoot @ Oct 27th 2008 2:48PM]

****Easy Bloom Results*****

It seems as though your plant is dying due to lack of moisture.

REMEDIES

Water plant.

[teknique834 @ Oct 27th 2008 2:53PM]

Plants celebrate, not plans.

[Vicada @ Oct 27th 2008 2:56PM]

That's probably one of the weirdest USB peripherals to hit the market lately but I kinda like it, I mean some people (like my dad) would save a lot of money on plants if they knew whether they would grow somewhere in advance.

[lowdef @ Oct 27th 2008 2:59PM]

18 minutes.

[lowdef @ Oct 27th 2008 3:19PM]

i guess they deleted the post I replied to. in the mean time enjoy my new avatar

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 27th 2008 3:44PM]

Already enjoyed the movie.

[vector1 @ Oct 27th 2008 3:29PM]

If it measured soil pH and didn't require you to use its web based application, it might be a lot more useful. As it is now, it simply measures light, temperature and soil conductivity as an indication of water content and gives recommendations as to how often to water and whether light and temp are appropriate for the plant based on their web database. Unless that photo sensor measures UV/IR value of the light, it too is useless. Your plant can sit under narrow spectrum bulbs with enough 'light' all day long and not maintain photosynthesis. Crappy gadget, overpriced, buggy software, lack of useful features, limited data. Two thumbs down.

[AtOurGates @ Oct 27th 2008 3:53PM]

Good analysis. But I would add that it's a great idea, poorly implemented. Add UV/IR measurement and pH measurement and I could combine my nerd passions with with my gardening passions. I'd happily pay more than $60 to get something that would let me measure all those conditions and keep track of them on the internets.

[Ed @ Oct 27th 2008 4:05PM]

I was involved with their BETA - here are a few comments.

I used the thing on my plants and one of the cooler features is that it corrects the lighting conditions based on cloud cover. So the web is fairly useful. It also keeps track of all the locations where you have placed it as well as your plants. It essentially becomes your go to place for your garden.

The light sensor (according to them) actually looks at the spectrum of light used by a plant. I did an experiment where I placed it in a room near a normal 75 watt light on all the time and it said it was a very deep shade location. So it is doing more than just brightness.

[jellin @ Oct 27th 2008 4:44PM]

How do you know their software's no good? Do you have one?

[jefffaucher @ Oct 27th 2008 3:39PM]

Great. now my houseplants will have better medical care than I do.

[Shea @ Oct 27th 2008 8:34PM]

*insert sly political remark here*

[Chris @ Oct 27th 2008 3:48PM]

lol If you look at the gallery at the picture showing the thing plugged into your laptop, notice its on the edge of a table. on a flat surface I don't think you would be able to plug it in at all due to the size of that 'flower' on the end!

[Ed @ Oct 27th 2008 4:04PM]

The thing comes with a USB cable. Cheesy that they didn't show that.

[treaty @ Oct 27th 2008 4:22PM]

USB? Let me know when this thing has an 802.11g wireless chip in it so I can add it to the network and get data on the fly...

[wireless_wzrd @ Oct 27th 2008 4:29PM]

I like that idea.... though I'm not sure my .11g AP would actually extend out to my garden. My AP is in the back of my house and I have most of my plants in the front of the house. They should do something about it.

[Valicore @ Oct 27th 2008 4:21PM]

The laptop pic makes it look like Mary Poppins got a new fan for her laptop.

[RalphU @ Oct 27th 2008 4:35PM]

I participated in their BETA. The sensor is very helpful in identifying problems with the way you are caring for your plants. I talked on the phone at length with one of their botanists, who told me that about 95% of plant mistakes are water or light related, so the measurements it takes are very useful! The web interface is really great, since it has a tiny software footprint relative to the information it serves up. I think it's a great product.

[ChuChu @ Oct 27th 2008 4:52PM]

My USB shill sensor is getting a high reading from this post ^^^

[Ville Wilson @ Oct 27th 2008 4:55PM]

Next product in line: EasyButt. You stick it "somewhere" for 24 hours, then connect it to USB, then you don't have to go to doctor anymore.

[rita hainsworth @ Oct 27th 2008 6:13PM]

What happens if you stick it in your ass?

[phanbouy @ Oct 27th 2008 6:29PM]

trouble sitting down

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 27th 2008 7:16PM]

It will assess your dietary intake, as well as sperm-count, provided you're a catcher.

[dzhiurgis @ Oct 27th 2008 7:43PM]

Is it marijuana-growers friendly or just reports it to the authorities?

[Tom @ Jan 15th 2009 4:45PM]

It's not in their database, but maybe you can call it something else. Basil?